On 4 September (Old Style), 1911 in Belgorod a cross procession devoted to the canonization of Saint Ioasaph of Belgorod took place.
The ruling bishop of Belgorod and Oboyan Ioasaph (Gorlenko) was venerated as a pious ascetic during his lifetime. Two years after the death of the prelate, representatives of the clergy secretly opened his coffin and discovered his incorruptible relics. For more than a hundred and fifty years they were kept in the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Belgorod. During this time the saint became revered as a miracle worker: miracles of healing occurred at his relics and at the burial site.
In December 1908, on the basis of numerous petitions from the laity and clergy, presented by Bishop Pitirim of Kursk, the Holy Synod passed a decision to canonize Ioasaph, which received the personal support of Emperor Nicholas II.
In 1910–1911, a reliquary with a canopy was made for the relics of the saint, according to a design by the architect Vladimir Alexandrovich Pokrovsky. The procession went outside the convent gates through the western gate of the church and moved along the Street of Emperor Nicholas II. Ahead of the column were two deacons, one of whom carried the lantern and the other — a processional cross, followed by chanters, over two hundred church banner bearers and as many clergymen in full vestment, many pilgrims and representatives of various delegations. The coffin of the saint was carried by the senior clergy and hierarchs, and also, taking turns, by many of the archimandrites, archpriests, priest-monks, nuns and hegumenae. Grand Duchess Elizaveta Feodorovna and Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich, who came to Belgorod especially for the day of the ceremony, also took part in carrying the coffin. Not only the street, but also the windows, balconies and roofs of houses were full of those praying. After the procession unceasing singing of prayers and worshipping of holy relics began near the reliquary of newly glorified saint. When the religious part of the event was over a military parade under the command of Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich took place near the convent fence. It is noteworthy that despite the huge crowds, the celebrations were held in exemplary order.
The original postcard (published at Alexander Weinbaum printing house in the early 20th century) was lent to the museum for copying by a Belgorod collector Anatoly Tkachenko.
The ruling bishop of Belgorod and Oboyan Ioasaph (Gorlenko) was venerated as a pious ascetic during his lifetime. Two years after the death of the prelate, representatives of the clergy secretly opened his coffin and discovered his incorruptible relics. For more than a hundred and fifty years they were kept in the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Belgorod. During this time the saint became revered as a miracle worker: miracles of healing occurred at his relics and at the burial site.
In December 1908, on the basis of numerous petitions from the laity and clergy, presented by Bishop Pitirim of Kursk, the Holy Synod passed a decision to canonize Ioasaph, which received the personal support of Emperor Nicholas II.
In 1910–1911, a reliquary with a canopy was made for the relics of the saint, according to a design by the architect Vladimir Alexandrovich Pokrovsky. The procession went outside the convent gates through the western gate of the church and moved along the Street of Emperor Nicholas II. Ahead of the column were two deacons, one of whom carried the lantern and the other — a processional cross, followed by chanters, over two hundred church banner bearers and as many clergymen in full vestment, many pilgrims and representatives of various delegations. The coffin of the saint was carried by the senior clergy and hierarchs, and also, taking turns, by many of the archimandrites, archpriests, priest-monks, nuns and hegumenae. Grand Duchess Elizaveta Feodorovna and Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich, who came to Belgorod especially for the day of the ceremony, also took part in carrying the coffin. Not only the street, but also the windows, balconies and roofs of houses were full of those praying. After the procession unceasing singing of prayers and worshipping of holy relics began near the reliquary of newly glorified saint. When the religious part of the event was over a military parade under the command of Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich took place near the convent fence. It is noteworthy that despite the huge crowds, the celebrations were held in exemplary order.
The original postcard (published at Alexander Weinbaum printing house in the early 20th century) was lent to the museum for copying by a Belgorod collector Anatoly Tkachenko.
